Reviews

A Mature Defense of a Realistic Heroine

To everyone labeling the female lead as "toxic," I have to ask: are we watching the same show? After seeing numerous comments warning me about her character, I’ve found that with each passing episode, the reality is far more nuanced. Her trauma has hardened her, yes, but she is consistently doing her best to trust again and give people a chance. Despite going through trials most of us can't relate to, she still manages to smile. She is growing and learning at her own pace—which is exactly what real healing looks like.

Who Should Watch This?
If you are looking for a mature, three-dimensional love story, this is a beautiful and thoughtful journey. However, it requires a certain perspective to appreciate:

Avoid if: You have a strictly black-and-white view of the world or believe that love should only be "fluffy" and positive. If you aren't ready for a realistic interpretation of how real people handle real baggage, there are plenty of standard office comedies that might be more your style.

Watch if: You see the world in all its colors—both the ugly and the beautiful. If you prefer flawed, human characters over two-dimensional tropes, you will find this story deeply rewarding.

This is a story for the mature viewer who understands that love isn't always "pink"—sometimes it’s grey, complicated, and all the more beautiful for it.

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A Rare Drama Worth the Wait

"How Dare You" is one of those rare C-dramas that doesn't just pass time; it demands it. From its first few episodes, I was hooked on a weekly countdown, eagerly awaiting each new episode's release. That, in and of itself, is a testament to its gripping narrative.

"How Dare You" is remarkably well-paced. It doesn't meander or drag out its conflicts or take unnecessary side trips. It's a masterful build-up to a dramatic, high-note conclusion. Each character's development is deliberate and calculated, and the narrative honors the viewer's patience.

The ethereal beauty of the female lead is not just physical but also extends to her performance. She's a wonder to behold, and every scene she's in is elevated by her presence. Opposite her, the male lead gives a peak performance. He's got range, subtlety, and power, and he anchors this drama with an authenticity that's impossible to deny.

By its conclusion, everything comes together swimmingly. No rushed conclusions, no dangling threads - just a well-earned, high-note conclusion. "How Dare You" is more than just another C-drama. It's a reminder of just how powerful storytelling, pacing, and performance can be.

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It wasn't awful, but not good either

Hyun Bin was the saving grace.

I thought the story could have been much better, with more fun moments. The contrast between the two personalities was lacking.

The fact that the female lead was made to act as if she were interacting with two completely different people felt stupid. Yes, you can fall for someone's personality. But how can you love one, sleep with one, yet feel next to nothing for the other? They are the same person!

I also didn’t like the female lead’s facial expressions; she always seemed to be questioning life.

And the styling was terrible. I know it was 2015, but the clothing, especially Robin’s, was awful. It felt exaggerated and almost cartoonish, as if the wardrobe alone had to do the work of distinguishing the personalities. On top of that, why name him Robin? It’s such an odd choice. He invented a whole backstory and family for himself, and they were simply Koreans living in Korea. So why would he have an English name like Robin? It just made the character feel even more artificial.

The supporting cast was weak as well. No one was properly developed or given a meaningful storyline. And what happened to the circus? It was introduced as a central element, and then it was basically forgotten. There was no real payoff.

I still don’t understand why this had to be 20 episodes. Where Crash Landing on You could have easily filled ten more episodes, this one felt at least ten episodes too long.

I only gave it a six because it had potential and I finished it. But overall, it was a pretty hard watch for me.

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“When he comes, close your eyes.”

I first watched Love Me If You Dare long before I even created a profile here on MDL. I came back to it recently because I was chasing a particular feeling — that quiet intensity where tension and intimacy grow side by side.

Rewatching it now, I’m aware that I value emotional consistency and psychological coherence more than flashy chemistry or spectacle. And this drama still delivers on that level.
The thriller and romance don’t compete; they reinforce each other. The dialogue feels intentional, the character motivations remain internally consistent, and the emotional progression unfolds through trust and proximity rather than grand declarations.

Yes, the female lead is underwritten in places, and a few performances wobble. The off-screen intimacy, or the first kiss being understated, might frustrate viewers expecting a conventional romance. No overtly passionate kiss scenes are pushed to manufacture intensity, yet the tension is palpable throughout their entire dynamic. It lives in restraint.

Language inconsistencies (Mandarin vs. English) and improbable survival in the thriller beats are quirks — but I see them as stylistic and narrative choices that maintain tension, pacing, and accessibility rather than logic-breaking flaws. The side characters add warmth without disrupting the central tension.

Adapted from Ding Mo’s novel, with the screenwriter of Nirvana in Fire and a director who later delivered The Story of Ming Lan, it’s clear the craft is deliberate. The story’s architecture, pacing, and psychological realism still hold up remarkably well.

Years later, I can say this: I’m not just nostalgic. Some dramas impress in the moment. This one sustains itself.

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Excellent drama! Wang Churan and Cheng Lei are sensational! If they don't act in another drama together it will be a crime! Everyone in the cast was great! I only have a few things that keep this from being a 10/10 story.

About half way through, I was worried the story was going to fall flat, because I just wasn't as engaged with what was happened on screen. The forth wall breaks from the first few episodes was a breath of fresh air, and felt like a commentary on c-dramas in general. When they stopped and the typical tropes c-dramas fall into started frequently happening, I thought I might have to drop this one. But the story quickly picked back up and I was eagerly anticipating each episode drop!

My gripe with the music is more just with c-drama music in general. The overuse of songs bores me. I get it, more songs is more money spent, but I get tired of hearing the same motifs over and over again. This music in this drama is fine. I just got bored with it.

Overall, a very enjoyable drama! Kudos to Wang Churan and Cheng Lei! They truly were wonderfully cast! Their chemistry was electric! Wanyin and Dan were such lovely characters, and they brought them to life perfectly!

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HERE ARE HONEST CRITICAL ANALYSIS

If there is one area where the drama undeniably shines, it is the aesthetic execution. The celestial realms are rendered with vibrant, saturated palettes that feel more 'magical' and less sterile than many low-budget peers. The evolution of the characters is reflected well in their attire, moving from the playful, airy silks of the early episodes to the heavy, regal garments of the finale. Moreover, the heavy lifting is done by the leads, though their chemistry is a point of connection for many viewers. Zhao Lusi brings her signature charm of the 'water beast' A-Yin. But for some, her early-game 'baby voice' performance can feel grating. Her transition into the powerful, colder Feng Yin is where she truly proves her range, offering a satisfying payoff. Wang Anyu delivers a solid performance as the hidden 'True God's son', but the script does him no favors. His character often falls into the 'misunderstanding martyr' trope, leading to a frustrating lack of communication that drives the plot's central conflicts.

However, the drama's biggest weakness is its reliance on recycled plot devices. Much of the angst is built on 'I'm doing this for your own good, but I won't tell you why.' In 2026, this trope feels increasingly tiring. Like many dramas in this genre, the plot relies heavily on characters spitting blood and sacrificing their cultivation or lives in a repetitive cycle that loses emotional impact towards the end. The middle act of the drama suffers from significant drag. The 'quest' to collect the immortal soul fragments feels formulaic: find a piece, fight a monster, have a misunderstanding, repeat. While the stakes are technically high ( the fate of the realms), the emotional weight doesn't always keep pace with the plot.

In conclusion, The Last Immortall is a comfort watch for die-hard Xianxia fans wholove the 'trials and tribulations' of star-crossed lovers. It doesn't surpass 'Ancient Love Poetry', but it offers enough spectacle and star power to be enjoyed if you go in with adjusted expectations.

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A treat!

Beautifully written.

A second chance to live, love, and conquer.

I love how straightforward both the main characters are in their second life. They were able to instantly resolve all the drama and tensions during their past life which then made them great allies and partners in the current life.

I also love how everything unfolded in the end. How secret enemies from their past life became their strongest allies in the current one. It’s beautifully written in a way that reminds us that once one changes their outlook and stance in life, another set of future becomes available.

This is also way different from other historical and political dramas as the main focus here revolves around the court politics and little to none about the common folk.

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Well-produced and well-acted Korean BL Vertical

I stumbled upon “Summer Indigo” as I was browsing through my iQiyi app late last night. I’ve seen my fair share of verticals and this is a very well-produced Korean BL that has a decent plot, good acting and chemistry.

“Summer Indigo” is a sports drama with the judo club as the setting, and not a romantic-comedy. The drama focuses on the relationship and romance between two team members, and the team's competitive dynamics, hierarchy and unspoken rules of the club. There’s a lot of unfairness and mistreatment that could be a trigger for some.

I am most impressed with the acting of the cast. With all of the actors being pretty new, there wasn’t a time when I felt cringiness or unease because of their acting. I like blondie’s acting the best, but the other two aren’t bad either. There are some cute scenes, but also some more emotionally charged ones as well. The chemistry of the leads is also great. I even felt bad for the young villain, despite him being a bully and doing other bad things. But once we get to know him more, his actions make sense (though not excusable).

If you are interested in checking out a Korean BL Vertical, this is a good one. It’s not easy to find a vertical (from any country) that is well-produced and doesn’t feel cheap, with a good-looking cast that can also act!



Completed: 2/18/2026 Review #667

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A remarkable turnaround ...

so I have watched couple of episodes from the animated series and wished they will do a live action version , yet when i watched the first episodes I couldn't bring myself to keep watching , still I gave it a chance and glad I did .

In the beginning you think it is gonna be a bunch of funny scenes without an actual plot but it get a great turnaround after xu yao's death, you begin to see that isn't gonna be as written in the book and as yu wayin predictions.

this was great on so many levels music , costumes , acting yet I can't tell if the actor who did prince duan did a great job or not like he is a villian to forget , not a strong antagonist for me , he did some bad deeds but the whole series he was only plotting and whenever he tried to carry out his plan it failed and it wasn't even due to wanyin's knowledge of the book because everything deviated from the book , it was like Dan was always one step ahead , yet actor did a really go job in making me hate his character .

xie yong er 's death was so rushed like she dead and they gave her a 2 or 3 minutes and that is it and it wasn't mentioned again except briefly , I wished she and cuihua would have met in the real world .

I hoped they would give zhang san and cuihua more screen time when they returned to the real world.

empress dowager kept saying she hated Dan's father , we later found she was from Qiang, wished we got more background on that like how she ended in Xia was a marriage alliance , a hostage ??

when it came to dramatic scenes this series delivered , was it perfect NO but nonetheless it was great and deserves to give it a go.

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I. enjoyed It

I have seen many Mixed thoughts on this one, what is understanding I feel like this one is not For Everyone. So where we go my thoughts about. I like the acting i thought it was done so well the Makeup the zombie just everything about that was done so well in my opinion. Then are some Top BL actors in this and see them playing something Different is nice 🥹. I feel some characters was annoying hey that out of the show.. Did I wish they died yes lol.. it could be but slow I feel more to the End of the the drama but it kinda made sense tho cuzs we was getting more the full story and what was happening.. But of your into Zombies and wanna see some or one of your favorites in this I well have to say check it out.. then is a opening ending so then is going to be a S2..

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A high quality political historical drama

Grandeur in nature; this was a highly political historical drama of 48 episodes length based on real events (maybe not entirely but that’s up for discussion!) that occurred during the five dynasties and ten kingdoms. It focused mainly on the kingdom of Wuyue up until it surrendered peacefully to the Song Dynasty in 978 to spare its people from war.

Song China has been one of the well-known dynasties due to its success but I love how the drama had given spotlight to a smaller but thriving kingdom in Wuyue who’s often overlooked in history. It showed us the rise and the changes within Wuyue, the problems it faced, the things they implemented for its success, and the events that led up to its surrender to Song. On the other hand, we were also given a peak of the chaos in the central plains along with the changing of dynasties that occurred. With only 48 episodes, I think the drama tried its best to cover all the events mentioned above (which was a pretty good feat!).

From the first minute of the first episode, you could tell immediately that this is a top-tier content. This may not be an easy watch with all the characters being thrown to the viewers throughout the drama. YES it was confusing at first, but as the story progresses, you will eventually get familiar with all the characters and the role they play. I believe neither of the characters were good nor bad, but rather they were simply focused on doing what was best for their state. The only characters that I disliked were the young successors who were easily manipulated or were too foolish to rule.

The performance of every single cast is nothing short of remarkable, with seasoned and stellar actors delivering nuanced portrayals of their characters. The delivery of their lines was brilliant, and you could feel the intensity in every word they drop. I came here for Zhu Yawen but ended up loving every cast, most especially Bai Yu. The portrayal of Bai Yu as Qian Chu was phenomenal. He was able to give the youthful energy that the young Hong Chu should have, and at the same time, he was amazing with depicting the older, weary King of Wu Yue. Zhou Yutong may have not a lot of scenes, but her portrayal as Sun Taizhen certainly deserved applause. I remember watching her in the beginning when she barely had any lines and yet her facial expressions were enough to convey the character’s subtext and complex emotions.

The drama also gave a dash of romance between Qian Chu and Sun Taizhen, but I love that it was not distracting to the plot at all! They may probably be my favourite couple despite barely having any scenes together. They met when they were kids, grew up together, went through adventures and challenges together, and built life and family together. Despite minimal physical intimacy, the audience could still feel the characters’ deep mutual understanding and affection.

The production demonstrated exceptional quality and artistry, particularly through its authentic set designs and costumes. The music was no less exquisite with it seamlessly matching each scene. The narrative primarily features ministers and officials engaged in discussions concerning state affairs, with dialogue taking precedence over action. I find these conversations interesting, offering substantial value and insight. The dialogues were well-written that I often find myself repeating a scene just so I could take in what has been said and understand its complexity in its entirety. I thought I would get bored at some point, but that point did not come when watching this. The plot moved rapidly as it involves multiple shifts in power, numerous deaths, and constant changes throughout. The drama started strong and it kept its audience engaged until the end.

Although this drama is well-produced, it may appeal mainly to history enthusiasts familiar with the era or have deep passion in learning history rather than casual viewers. That being said, please still do give this drama a try! This was a heavy watch but so so worth it in the end.

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